NITTE UNIVERSITY MANGALORE HOSTS INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

MANGALURU: Antimicrobial resistance is a scourge that has been effecting healthcare sector globally. What is alarming is that some of the microbes are becoming resistant to all currently available antibiotics and and despite excellent research by scientists, no new antibiotics have come into the market for over 3 decades. In India, it has been estimated that about 60,000 children die every year due to failure of antibiotic therapy. The seriousness is evident from the fact that the United Nations General Assembly at its 71st Session adopted a resolution in 2016 in which heads of Governments have committed to take a broad and coordinated approach to address the root cause of antimicrobial resistance.This is the fourth UN resolution in health area, others being HIV, non-communicable diseases and ebola. The World Health Organisation has developed a Global Action on antimicrobial resistance. 

We need to recognise that antibiotics are widely used in different sectors like agriculture, veterinary medicine and human medicine and one of the major issues has been indiscriminate use and over the counter availability of antibiotics, which leads to misuse, overuse and indiscriminate use. Same antibiotics that are needed for human medicine are also used in veterinary practice and there are reports of use of antibiotics to promote growth in animal sector. Indiscriminate use could be due to number of reasons like lack of awareness, lack of diagnostic facilities, lack of specialist medical or veterinary support in many areas. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations has developed an action plan that has four focus areas (a) improve awareness on antimicrobial resistance and related threats (b) develop capacity for surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use in food and agriculture (c) strengthen governance related to antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use in food and agriculture (d) promote good practices in food and agriculture systems and prudent use of antimicrobials. FAO member countries are expected to implement programmes in line with these focal areas.

Food and Ariculture Organisation (FAO) has taken the lead to help Member countries address this important issue in a coordinated manner, by developing national action plans and strengthening national capacities, policies and action plan on prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in aquaculture. FAO has chosen Nitte University to host this first international workshop in aquatic animal health area, mainly because of the expertise available in Nitte University and past experience of organising successful international Workshops.

The first workshop has official delegates from China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines. There are expert speakers from FAO, World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), Ireland, Netherland, Philippines and India. Dr. Melba Reantaso from FAO headquarters in Rome is leading the project on aquaculture. Dr. Iddya Karunasagar and Dr. Indrani Karunasagar from Nitte University are serving both as local organisers as well as Expert speakers in the Workshop. They are also contributing authors in a forthcoming FAO publication on Bacterial Diseases in Aquaculture. Considering the importance of this Workshop for India, Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research is participating as Chief Guest at the inaugural function. Dr. S. Ramananda Shetty, Vice Chancellor of Nitte University is presiding over the function.